Art and culture are the heart beat of the thriving Greater Houston Region.
But too often, the impact and needs of this essential sector are left out of the conversation. HouArts in Action is a unified approach to champion arts and culture across the region,
We are building a coalition of artists, organizations, business leaders, and community champions to amplify the collective voice of the creative sector and put arts on the agenda.
HouArts in Action will coordinate research on the impact of arts and culture, define talking points, and host an annual “State of the Arts” event to establish and share key messages.
This initiative will also train and mobilize arts and culture ambassadors to advocate for the arts with key decision-makers, in 1:1 meetings and public forums. We will train and recruit this network and mobilize it in ways that put arts on the agenda in spaces historically focused on tourism, economic development, and general quality of life.
Nothing happens without strong relationships. HouArts in Action will facilitate relationship- building among arts and culture ambassadors and key constituencies, including philanthropists, educational institutions and the business community.
There is an incredible network of existing supporters and partners for arts and culture, and formalizing and maintaining those relationships is essential. In addition, there is an opportunity to establish new partnerships with developers and neighborhood groups around our focus on vibrant spaces.
Members of the HouArts in Action Task Force were selected from a pool of applicants via an open call process. They include artists, creatives, & large, medium and small arts organizations representatives from across the Greater Houston Region. Task force members were selected to share direct insight into the needs of the cultural sector and offer guidance as we work together with the community to build champions of arts & culture in the Greater Houston Area.
Project Coordination
Marci Dallas
Project Delivery & Strategy Development
Isaac MacDonald, Khi Van Allen & Polly Sawabini
Communications & Outreach
Maya Ford & Celina Vargas
Policy Analysis & Strategy
Scott Carter & Alex Rodriguez
Website & Graphic Design
We’d love to hear what policy areas, impact statistics, or exciting partnerships you think we should be considering. In addition to the forums listed above, please take this anonymous survey to share your feedback.
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In response to a community call for the creation of an icon that represented the Champion the Arts strategy. In August 2024, we held an open call for local artists to create this icon. The design by Houston artist Sebastian Gomez de la Torre was selected. His mosaic icon symbolizes the diverse arts and culture sector in Houston. We invite you to show your support for the arts in Houston by wearing the HOU ARTS pin. You can pick one up at one of our upcoming events.